Beauty and Destruction: Wartime London in Art

20 Mar 2026 · Imperial War Museum · Free · Ages 6-11, 12-16

A free exhibition that tells the story of London during the Second World War, as seen by artists. Families can enjoy a child-friendly ‘stamper’ trail and activity sheet that encourages children to spot details, ask questions and engage with the artworks. As bombs rained down in 1940s London, artists responded. See art that presents a city both familiar and strange in over 45 paintings and drawings alongside photographs, film, objects and oral histories. Londoners faced loss, displacement, overcrowding and shortages. Amid exhaustion and trauma, people showed an astonishing degree of adaptability. See the work that brings their world to life, from the iconic resilience of St Paul’s Cathedral to the devastation of the Docklands.

Kids activities in London